Council recognizes Zink, Holt for service to city WATCH THE VIDEO
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Hillsboro City Council members recognized Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt Monday, during their last scheduled council meeting while in office.
During his report to council, Zink said that although there have been differences among city elected officials, they have always been able to work together for the good of the city.
"I'd like to thank all city employees and city council members for their dedication they have displayed in doing their jobs," Zink said. "I know there have been many times in the past that the administration and city council have not seen eye to eye on some matters - and I think you all can vouch for that. However, I also understand that we all take our respective stands on issues based on our beliefs. I want to wish you all well in the future regarding your decisions for the city of Hillsboro."
Hillsboro City Council President Lee Koogler said that on behalf of the council he wanted to thank Zink and Holt for their service, and to wish them well in the future.
"Well, we haven't always gotten along with the greatest of ease," Zink said, "but I think everybody that sits around here that's been elected is doing their job to the best of their ability to try to do what is right for the citizens. It don't mean I'm always right, it don't mean I'm always wrong. But we've all learned to put our differences aside and get the matters taken care of."
Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis acknowledged that he and Zink have had their disagreements, but that he admires the mayor's years of public services, and that he wishes him well in retirement.
"Congratulations on your service in our community over many, many years," Lewis said. "I can't imagine that amount of time."
Zink laughed and responded, "I can't either, Gary."
"We've not always seen eye to eye. You were a tough customer," Lewis said. "But all in all, it has been a pleasure working with you. I wish you and (Zink's wife) Jo well in your retirement."
Council member Mary Brown Turner said "We have been blessed in so many ways with the presence of Mayor Zink and Mr. Holt. In some way, your spirit and your goodness will be with us always. Thank you so much."
Council member Dave Shoemaker said that he appreciated the help that Zink and Holt have given him through his years on council, particularly when it came to sorting out issues on the utilities committee, such as the wastewater treatment plant construction and water and sewer rates.
"I've actually enjoyed working with you, despite what everybody else says," Shoemaker said with a laugh.
Zink and Holt's final day in office is Dec. 31.
In other business, council voted to pass legislation regarding health insurance for city employees.
Prior to the regular council meeting, the finance committee met to discuss employee health insurance bids.
Deputy Hillsboro Law Director Kathryn told the committee that she, Holt and committee chairperson Peter Pence had met to discuss the bids.
Hapner said that the average bids came in at 6.5 percent higher than last year, but with increases that the city will have to pay for premiums in health savings accounts, "it is more like a 9.7 percent increase."
"The deductible (in 2010) for a family was $4,000 and $2,000 for single," Hapner said. "For next year (2012) is $5,000 for family and $3,000 for singles. When you add in that cost, that increases our cost ... roughly 9.7 percent. Our union contracts call for the city to pay any increase in health care costs that are up to a 10-percent increase. The city has to absorb all of that (9.7 percent) increased cost in insurance for our union members. What that means for them is that for this coming year, they will pay the portion that their contract requites them to put in on their deductible."
Holt told the committee they needed to understand that, "this is a renewal. (No other bidders) could come in close to where the renewal rate was."
When asked how many bids the city had received Holt said there were three bids, and then said, "well, none, really. No one would bid on it after we sent out the information. They couldn't beat the cost, and with the issues we have with some of our employees health wise, they wouldn't bid it."
Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence said that it was, "pretty much straightforward. Unfortunately, once again, we don't have much option."
"It seems like everything has been kind of set for us," Shoemaker said. "We really have no control over what's going on. It was done by the provider, and the increases are what they area."
The finance committee made a recommendation that council "go along with the increases that we've talked about," and council ultimately voted 6-0 to accept the health insurance as recommended.
Also during the meeting, the committee voted 6-0, in separate actions, to pass the city's annual appropriation ordinance, and to increase the appropriations in the general fund and to advance funds from the general fund to other funds as needed.
Regarding the end-of-year funds, Zink said, "If you remember, the 2011 budget was passed with a projected year-end balance of $70,000 in the general fun unencumbered balance. As of Dec. 5, 2011 the fund report shows $572,782.03 in the general fund unencumbered balance. I don't think the month of December will show expences totaling $500,000, so it appears we're going to come in well above the $70,000 anticipated. This has been accomplished by the department supervisors being very aware of the tight budget and monitoring the spending in their respective departments.
Zink also said that he wanted to draw attention to the year to date balance at the beginning of 2011, which was $4,443,345.58.
"On Dec. 5, the report balance was $4,962,324.97, approximately $500,000 more than the beginning balance at the start of the year," Zink said.
In other business:
• Holt reported that due to excessive amount of rainfall this year, the completion date on the city's wastewater sewer plant construction has been pushed back from October to March or April.
• During the finance committee meeting, council and administration members met in executive session for approximately half an hour to discuss personnel.
• Jeanette Washburn, the manager of the Hillsboro Save-A-Lot told council that the store would be moving this week from its current location to the Hillsboro Plaza, located at the intersection of North High Street and Harry Sauner Road, behind McDonalds. She asked that the city consider putting in a left-turn signal at the intersection traffic light. Koogler put the matter into the street and safety committee for further review.
• Council members voted to waive the three-reading rule an voted 6-0 to pass a resolution, "adopting a plan under the OML 457 deferred compensation plan administered by ING Financial partners for participation by 'eligible employees' of the city of Hillsboro."
• Council member Rod Daniels was not in attendance, as he has been deployed overseas to serve with the 15th psychological operations Army Reserve.Regarding the absence, Koogler said, "It is an issue I am still continuing to take a look at, so I am not going to address approval or disproval of thereof of his presence at this time."
• Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and voted 6-0 to enter into a contract with the Highland County Board of Commissioners to provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with serious offenses.
• Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and passed a resolution to, "approve the cost of abating nuisance and certifying the
amount to the Highland County Auditor for inclusion on the tax duplicate of the property upon which the nuisance was located" regarding properties that had been found in violation of the city ordinance controlling the mowing of grass and non-disposal of trash.
• Council voted 6-0 to pass a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Ohio Department of Development Revolving Loan Fund for the administration of the city's Economic Development Block Grant funds.
• Koogler asked council members to begin making an effort to turn in written committee reports in order to better document meetings, and so that the clerk might accurately record committee votes.
Hillsboro City Council members recognized Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt Monday, during their last scheduled council meeting while in office.
During his report to council, Zink said that although there have been differences among city elected officials, they have always been able to work together for the good of the city.
"I'd like to thank all city employees and city council members for their dedication they have displayed in doing their jobs," Zink said. "I know there have been many times in the past that the administration and city council have not seen eye to eye on some matters - and I think you all can vouch for that. However, I also understand that we all take our respective stands on issues based on our beliefs. I want to wish you all well in the future regarding your decisions for the city of Hillsboro."
Hillsboro City Council President Lee Koogler said that on behalf of the council he wanted to thank Zink and Holt for their service, and to wish them well in the future.
"Well, we haven't always gotten along with the greatest of ease," Zink said, "but I think everybody that sits around here that's been elected is doing their job to the best of their ability to try to do what is right for the citizens. It don't mean I'm always right, it don't mean I'm always wrong. But we've all learned to put our differences aside and get the matters taken care of."
Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis acknowledged that he and Zink have had their disagreements, but that he admires the mayor's years of public services, and that he wishes him well in retirement.
"Congratulations on your service in our community over many, many years," Lewis said. "I can't imagine that amount of time."
Zink laughed and responded, "I can't either, Gary."
"We've not always seen eye to eye. You were a tough customer," Lewis said. "But all in all, it has been a pleasure working with you. I wish you and (Zink's wife) Jo well in your retirement."
Council member Mary Brown Turner said "We have been blessed in so many ways with the presence of Mayor Zink and Mr. Holt. In some way, your spirit and your goodness will be with us always. Thank you so much."
Council member Dave Shoemaker said that he appreciated the help that Zink and Holt have given him through his years on council, particularly when it came to sorting out issues on the utilities committee, such as the wastewater treatment plant construction and water and sewer rates.
"I've actually enjoyed working with you, despite what everybody else says," Shoemaker said with a laugh.
Zink and Holt's final day in office is Dec. 31.
In other business, council voted to pass legislation regarding health insurance for city employees.
Prior to the regular council meeting, the finance committee met to discuss employee health insurance bids.
Deputy Hillsboro Law Director Kathryn told the committee that she, Holt and committee chairperson Peter Pence had met to discuss the bids.
Hapner said that the average bids came in at 6.5 percent higher than last year, but with increases that the city will have to pay for premiums in health savings accounts, "it is more like a 9.7 percent increase."
"The deductible (in 2010) for a family was $4,000 and $2,000 for single," Hapner said. "For next year (2012) is $5,000 for family and $3,000 for singles. When you add in that cost, that increases our cost ... roughly 9.7 percent. Our union contracts call for the city to pay any increase in health care costs that are up to a 10-percent increase. The city has to absorb all of that (9.7 percent) increased cost in insurance for our union members. What that means for them is that for this coming year, they will pay the portion that their contract requites them to put in on their deductible."
Holt told the committee they needed to understand that, "this is a renewal. (No other bidders) could come in close to where the renewal rate was."
When asked how many bids the city had received Holt said there were three bids, and then said, "well, none, really. No one would bid on it after we sent out the information. They couldn't beat the cost, and with the issues we have with some of our employees health wise, they wouldn't bid it."
Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence said that it was, "pretty much straightforward. Unfortunately, once again, we don't have much option."
"It seems like everything has been kind of set for us," Shoemaker said. "We really have no control over what's going on. It was done by the provider, and the increases are what they area."
The finance committee made a recommendation that council "go along with the increases that we've talked about," and council ultimately voted 6-0 to accept the health insurance as recommended.
Also during the meeting, the committee voted 6-0, in separate actions, to pass the city's annual appropriation ordinance, and to increase the appropriations in the general fund and to advance funds from the general fund to other funds as needed.
Regarding the end-of-year funds, Zink said, "If you remember, the 2011 budget was passed with a projected year-end balance of $70,000 in the general fun unencumbered balance. As of Dec. 5, 2011 the fund report shows $572,782.03 in the general fund unencumbered balance. I don't think the month of December will show expences totaling $500,000, so it appears we're going to come in well above the $70,000 anticipated. This has been accomplished by the department supervisors being very aware of the tight budget and monitoring the spending in their respective departments.
Zink also said that he wanted to draw attention to the year to date balance at the beginning of 2011, which was $4,443,345.58.
"On Dec. 5, the report balance was $4,962,324.97, approximately $500,000 more than the beginning balance at the start of the year," Zink said.
In other business:
• Holt reported that due to excessive amount of rainfall this year, the completion date on the city's wastewater sewer plant construction has been pushed back from October to March or April.
• During the finance committee meeting, council and administration members met in executive session for approximately half an hour to discuss personnel.
• Jeanette Washburn, the manager of the Hillsboro Save-A-Lot told council that the store would be moving this week from its current location to the Hillsboro Plaza, located at the intersection of North High Street and Harry Sauner Road, behind McDonalds. She asked that the city consider putting in a left-turn signal at the intersection traffic light. Koogler put the matter into the street and safety committee for further review.
• Council members voted to waive the three-reading rule an voted 6-0 to pass a resolution, "adopting a plan under the OML 457 deferred compensation plan administered by ING Financial partners for participation by 'eligible employees' of the city of Hillsboro."
• Council member Rod Daniels was not in attendance, as he has been deployed overseas to serve with the 15th psychological operations Army Reserve.Regarding the absence, Koogler said, "It is an issue I am still continuing to take a look at, so I am not going to address approval or disproval of thereof of his presence at this time."
• Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and voted 6-0 to enter into a contract with the Highland County Board of Commissioners to provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with serious offenses.
• Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and passed a resolution to, "approve the cost of abating nuisance and certifying the
amount to the Highland County Auditor for inclusion on the tax duplicate of the property upon which the nuisance was located" regarding properties that had been found in violation of the city ordinance controlling the mowing of grass and non-disposal of trash.
• Council voted 6-0 to pass a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Ohio Department of Development Revolving Loan Fund for the administration of the city's Economic Development Block Grant funds.
• Koogler asked council members to begin making an effort to turn in written committee reports in order to better document meetings, and so that the clerk might accurately record committee votes.